Like many Dodger fans, I was a bit skeptical when it was announced the the Dodgers had acquired veteran right-hander Ricky Nolasco from the Miami Marlins late last week. Sure, I was aware of many of Nolasco’s accomplishments during his 8-year major league career with the Florida/Miami Marlins, such as the fact that he was the winningest pitcher in the franchise’s short history and that he had a career mark of 81-72 and a career ERA of 4.44, but was he really all that much of an improvement over Stephen Fife or Chris Capuano at a time when the Dodgers could ill-afford to stumble while making a legitimate and serious run for the division lead?

Nolasco, who was born in Corona and raised in Rialto and who spent many evenings at Dodger Stadium watching his favorite team, removed my doubts in his very impressive debut with the Dodgers on Tuesday night in which he notched his first win with his new team against the first place Arizona Diamondbacks. Through 7 innings the 30-year-old Nolasco allowed only one run on 4 hits while striking out 4 and walking none. In fact, Nolasco allowed only one D-back runner past second base in the eventual 6-1 win over the division leaders. Granted, Nolasco was assisted by some shoddy D-backs defense, but his command of the strike zone was very impressive – especially his split-finger fastball that at times dropped nearly two feet and was absolutely unhittable.

Nolasco couldn’t have asked for a better debut with his new team, limiting the first place D-backs to only 4 hits. He also went 2 for 2 at the plate with an RBI and a sac bunt.
(Photo credit – Christian Petersen)

“I’m pretty pumped up. I haven’t been that locked in in a long time,” Nolasco told reporters after Tuesday night’s win. “It worked out great. Fortunately I was able to make good pitches, definitely excited. The energy and adrenaline were going in the first two innings,” added Nolasco.

Now this certainly is not to say that Stephen Fife and his 2.76 ERA won’t return to the Dodger starting rotation when he is healthy again from his second stint on the disabled list in as many months with bursitis in his throwing shoulder, but it is very likely that Nolasco’s arrival with the Dodgers will eventually force the ever-inconsistent Capuano into the bullpen, especially when you consider that the Dodgers already have two left-handed starters in their rotation in Kershaw and Ryu.

Like many of today’s MLB players Nolasco is heavy into social media, especially Twitter, where he has been very vocal (if that’s the right word) about his trade to the team that he grew up watching. And while he took the high road and did not speak negatively about his former team, he made it very clear that he was very excited to be a Dodger:

With the Dodgers now knocking on the door of first place in the NL West, it is quite possible that Nolasco is exactly what the doctor ordered to help push that door open by adding strength to the back end of the Dodgers rotation – something that they have desperately needed for the past several seasons.

Welcome to the Dodgers Ricky!

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Game Notes:

When D-backs starter Ian Kennedy hit Hanley Ramirez in the shoulder with a pitch in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game, he tried desperately to give the impression that it wasn’t intentional. While many may buy this line of fertilizer (as Vin Scully would say), I am definitely not one of them. Ramirez, who has been on an absolute terror since returning from the DL on June 4, had an MLB-leading 19-game hitting streak heading into Tuesday night’s game. What better way to end the streak of a hated rival than by taking the bat out of the hands of the team’s hottest hitters. Kennedy as you undoubtedly recall hit Dodger rookie phenom Yasiel Puig in the nose and then hit Dodger pitcher Zack Greinke in the shoulder just missing his head, resulting in one of the most intense brawls in recent history. (Note: Greinke had retaliated to the Puig HBP by hitting D-backs catcher Miguel Montero “in the wallet” (again, Vin Scully), which should have been the end to this nonsense.

By the same token, I find it equally difficult to believe that with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the 9th inning in a 6-1 rout that Dodger reliever Ronald Belisario didn’t intentionally hit Montero (who had apparently ordered the ‘Code Red’ on Greinke), despite his claims to the contrary; in fact I even predicted it:

Regardless, unless the D-backs choose to take this mess any further, this Baseball Codes retaliation thing should be over with, although I have my doubts about that.